Improvement in hinges for trunks and boxes



B. HOGAN.

Hinges for Trunks andBoxes.

Patented Nov. 26, 1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

BENJAMIN HOGAN, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH HOGAN OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HINGES FOR TRUNKS AND BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 133,313, dated November 26,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN HOGAN, of

Albany, in the county of Albany and State or the left side of an ordinary hinge in such a manner that the hinge may be. secured to the end of the trunk instead of at the back, as is usual when the ordinary butt or strap hinge is used. The second part of my invention relates to the combination of a check or projecting spur to the eye of a hinge constructed as above described, so that when the lid of the trunk or box is opened said lid will be held open, being supported upon said check or spur, without the necessity of having tape, straps, or stays of any kind.

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of my invention as applied to a trunk. Fig. 3 is a sectional'view through line a: a: in Fig. 1, showing check-spur or stop D.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, B B are the two leaves of an ordinary hinge, such as is generally used for trunks or boxes. Upon one side of the upper leaf of the hinge I construct an extended strap, 0 straight or curved, and forming an angle with said upper leaf. Strap C may be three or four inches in length, or of sufficient length to be fastened by screws, nails, or rivets to the end of the trunk-lid, as shown in Fig. 2. '0 is an end strap or brace constructed upon the side of the lower leaf of the hinge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The strap (J may be curved downward so as to cross the grain of the wood in the end of the trunk,

as shown in Fig. 2. D is a spur or stop projecting from the central part of the eye of the upper leaf of the hinge, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The outer angles formed by the junction of leaves B B with side straps C may be strengthened by bosses f f, or in any other desirable manner.

It will be seen from the above that by the use of my invention the ends of the trunk and its lid will be strengthened, and the whole strain, which is ordinarily thrown upon the back of the trunk, and frequently resulting in the tearing off of the hinges, will be transferred to the ends, which are usually the thickest parts of a trunk, and that, in all cases, a hinge constructed as here described cannot be as easily torn off a trunk as the common hinge now in use; also, that by the arrangement of stop D with such a hinge the lid of a trunk will be prevented from iallin g backward, and that while open the principal weight of the lid will rest upon the ends of the trunk, as herein shown. Neither will there be any need of tape or anything else as a check-strap on a trunk upon which this invention is used.

A hinge constructed as herein shown will have more than double the strength of an ordinary hinge.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. A hinge for trunks, constructed with stop D and extended side arms 0 0 substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A hinge for trunks, constructed with stop D, either or both of the extended side arms 0 O and corner bosses or strengthening-surfaces ff, substantially as and for the purpose described.

BENJAMIN HOGAN.

Witnesses:

ISAIAH W. STEARNS, Tuos. HoUGHTo 

